An unexpected blackout struck Ecuador on Wednesday after a failure in an energy transmission line, according to the government. The blackout came shortly after the announcement of anticipated power outages in the country due to production issues.
Ecuador's Minister of Energy reported that the failure, identified by the National Electricity Operator, resulted in a 'cascade disconnection,' leaving the entire nation without electricity. Efforts are underway to address the problem and repair the faulty power lines promptly.
While some areas experienced a 20-minute outage, reports from media outlets and social media indicated that many cities continued to be affected by the blackout. Residents described the situation as unexpected and disruptive, with businesses relying on generators and traffic lights rendered inoperative.
The Quito municipality deployed traffic agents to manage the flow of vehicles, and the city's subway system, operated by Quito Metro, was temporarily suspended due to the electrical failure.
Ecuador has been grappling with an electricity generation crisis since last year, leading to widespread rationing across the country. President Daniel Noboa's administration initiated electricity rationing in major cities in April, as a drought associated with the El Niño weather pattern depleted reservoirs and constrained output from hydroelectric plants, which typically contribute around 75% of the nation's power supply.
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